SMOKY
US, 1946, 87 minutes, Colour.
Fred Mac Murray, Anne Baxter, Burl Ives, Bruce Cabot, Esther Dale, Roy Roberts.
Directed by Louis King.
Smoky is based on a novel by Will James, a popular writer of stories about horses? It was directed by Louis King, a director of many small-budget films during the 30s and early 40s. However, in 1945 he made the sequel to My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead Son of Flicka. He also made Green Grass of Wyoming, Sand (also based on a novel by Will James) and in 1952 The Lion and the Horse. He seems to be a director whom producers trusted in bringing horse stories to the screen.
This is a genial kind of film though it does have some edge. Fred Mac Murray portrays a mysterious horse wrangler who sees a stallion and decides to tame him. He works at a ranch owned by Anne Baxter, inherited from her grandmother, a feisty Esther Dale. Burl Ives is introduced as a troubadour in this film (and he was to win an Oscar twelve years later as best supporting actor in The Big Country). Bruce Cabot is Mac Murray’s unreliable brother which raises some tensions between the two, as well as a clash with Smoky with dire consequences for Cabot.
Audiences who like films about horses will find this one very satisfying – along with the many ballads sung by Burl Ives including Streets of Laredo, Down in the Valley, Jimmy Crack Corn as well as On Top of Old Smoky at the end. There was a remake in 1966 with Fess Parker and Diana Hyland.
1.The popularity of films about horses? Especially in the 1940s? The work of Louis King and his many films on horses?
2.The location photography, the state of Wyoming, the mountains? The ranches? Authentic atmosphere? The 1940s? The old style, the horses, the drays, the cowboys? The modern era, cars, trucks …?
3.The title, giving the horse the title because of fire and smoke? Clint Barkley and his voice-over, descriptions of Smoky? His talking with Smoky throughout the film? Julie Richards and the voice-over and the visuals of Smoky as young colt?
4.Burl Ives, his character, singing – and the range of ballads that he sand throughout the film? A sense of good spirit among the horse wranglers and the cowboys?
5.Clint, the Fred Mac Murray type, upright and reliable, his secrets? In jail for his brother? Getting the job, not explaining things to Jeff? Gram and her liking him, Julie and her employing him? The many scenes of his working with Smoky? Not wanting to sell him? Seeing him as a cattle horse – testing him out, the fall, tying himself to the stirrup, Smoky taking him back to the ranch? Frank and his hostility to Clint, yet obeying him, the IOU, the final clash and Clint ordering him out? Finding Frank dead? Smoky and his getting away? Clint pursuing him over the months, into Arizona, asking people? Finally giving up – in Cheyenne, the chance encounter at the parade, tracking down Smoky, getting him back, getting him well and out into the fields again? With the happy ending? His relationship with Julie, formal, her support, the talk by the river, her letting him search for Smoky, helping him with his injuries? The humour of the sticking plaster? The happy ending?
6.Julie, young, her grandfather and his deals for the horses, the grandmother and the history of the ranch, the Indians? Flirtatious, strong-minded, her comments to Jeff and the hands? Her wanting Julie and Clint to be together?
7.Frank, no good, the IOU, opting out and letting his brother go to jail, coming to the ranch, getting the job, his anger at Smoky, the final clash with Clint, taking the cattle, the confrontation with Smoky, hitting him, his being stamped to death?
8.The hands, Bill, the singing, Jim the cook, Jeff and his running of the ranch?
9.The details of life on a ranch, day by day, week by week, the practical work, the cattle ride, the sales? A more optimistic and genial presentation of this western life?
